Sleeping without a tent?

[Undertaker]

Yep law inforcement will believe that on alright.

[Hayduke]

A rope around your campsite won't work but a steel cable hooked into a power line is a sure bet. Just be careful if you get up in the middle of the night.

[TheWildWestGuy]

The rope around the sleeping bag was probably just what the cowboys told themselves so they could go to sleep without staying up all night worrying about rattlesnakes.   I do the same thing with my vehicle at remote trailheads - I club the steering wheel, tie the doors together with a length of rope from the inside, and then leave a large note on the dashboard saying "nothing of value left in vehicle".    Would this prevent vehicle break-in - absolutely NOT, does it make me sleep better at night miles and miles from the trailhead - you bet.   I know it's not true but it's nice to fool myself into believing I have made my vehicle safe, after all they have all night to work on it and they can see other vehicles coming towards them from 2 miles away at night.   TWWG

[stingrey]

To anyone who has a similar bivy, how tall are you? Is this designed to be used in conjunction with a sleeping bag? I've been curious about this same item online, but can't find a whole lot about it. Thanks!

Don't know what your budget is, but I've got an Outdoor Research Bivy - Can't remember the model, but it is the one that has the poles in it to keep it off of your face and even has some noseeum meshing for warm evenings.  I have slept in this several times when backpacking in BB, even in about 8" of snow up in the Chisos - warm and toasty inside.  Plus it will keep any creppy-crawlys out and weighs hardly nothing (and you can put your boots inside of it if you want).  can't remember what I paid for it, but I think it was a maybe under $150.

[stingrey]

Anyone from S.A. taking a trek out to Cabella's anytime soon? I think they carry these Outdoor Research Bivys. They seem to get great reviews, but I still need more info about 'em. While I do have a brand new big daddy bottle of Patron, I'm not sure that the tequila juice will ward off all of the critters that I have seen in the bend. I CAN say that I'm less afraid of going tentless in the bend than I would be doing the same in Palmetto State Park! :)

[Al]

You can always mail order them.  Cabelas has a no questions asked return policy.  I have mailed ordered from them for years without a single complaint.  The OR stuff is very good in my experience.

Al

[Ay Chihuahua!]

One night I awoke to a coyote standing 3 feet from my head growling at me.

Man, that's a trip.  Where were you when this happened?  Did you hear it walking up to you, or did you just wake up suddenly with a coyote standing over you?   What did you do?  More details please...gotta know.

[Ay Chihuahua!]

I felt extremely vulnerable as I could not stand to run or even defend myself, all bound up in that bag.

Fear and helplessness together...I can't help but to feel a little bit of what you experienced.  Makes me feel a little uncomfortable sitting here at my desk.  Good story and thanks for sharing it.

[lighter fluid]

To anyone who has a similar bivy, how tall are you? Is this designed to be used in conjunction with a sleeping bag? I've been curious about this same item online, but can't find a whole lot about it. Thanks!

Don't know what your budget is, but I've got an Outdoor Research Bivy - Can't remember the model, but it is the one that has the poles in it to keep it off of your face and even has some noseeum meshing for warm evenings.  I have slept in this several times when backpacking in BB, even in about 8" of snow up in the Chisos - warm and toasty inside.  Plus it will keep any creppy-crawlys out and weighs hardly nothing (and you can put your boots inside of it if you want).  can't remember what I paid for it, but I think it was a maybe under $150.

Stingrey, I use a bivy almost always. The particular bivy I use is the Black Diamond Winter Bivy. It's a no frills ultralight bivy that is good for three season use. I have seam sealed mine for further protection form the elements, and had it modified as well with a removable no see um netting. I also had a loop added on the rain gutter flap that allows me to tie a guyline to it and secure it to a trekking pole or a tree so the bivy stays off my face. I don't do this often as I am not rally bothered by the bivy being close to my face.

Your sleeping bag does fit inside the bivy. You need to determine what type of bag you are going to use to be certain it will fit in your bivy. The Black Diamond bivy I use, for instance, is known for not being able to accomodate a high lofting winter sleeping bag, even though it is stated to be a "winter bivy".

I am 5' 7" so I have plenty of room to spare in my bivy. The two sleeping bags I use in it most often are the Big Agnes Horse Thief down bag that I have modified into a top bag, and the Lafuma 600 extreme synthetic sleeping bag.

I do not have experience in using the Outdoor Research line of bivies, but have read favorable reviews of them.
You might want to read some of the reviews on them here:
http://www.trailspace.com/gear/outdoor-research/tents/bivy/

[Undertaker]

Wonder how many old time cowboys died on the trail because of the hemp rope idea. I thought the idea was to be one with nature.

[STARLITDARKNESS3]

Nothing wrong with no tent during Spring Break.... 



Until it started snowing.   

[lighter fluid]

Nice pic STARLITDARKNESS3.

Here is a pic of me in my bivy along the Dodson portion of the OLM in 2006.

[stingrey]

I think I'm going to just have to visit REI or something. I'm pretty torn between a bivy and perhaps the Big Agnes SL2 or SL3 tent. I know each is a completely different product, but I am also trying to figure out which is the best initial investment given the fact that I'd love to convince my wife to overnight South Rim with me at some point. Thanks for the link, though, as it has definitely helped shed some light on my available options. Only problem is that now I want a bivy AND a super light, quick setup mesh tent!

[mule ears]

Nice pic STARLITDARKNESS3.

Here is a pic of me in my bivy along the Dodson portion of the OLM in 2006.

Lighter Fluid, I know you didn't carry that camp stool in, as an ultralighter, but I am glad that someone carried in a cold beverage for you .

I have used bivy's for years, mostly in wetter climates, in the desert I usually just use a small ground cloth to keep the bag clean.  I have used an OR, I think it is called the Sleeping Bag cover (18oz. no poles) for about 8 years and it has been great.  All kinds of conditions, mostly winter, with 15 degree bags, I am 6'1", 180 lbs. and it is plenty big even with the pad inside.  I have just changed to a Mountain Laurel Designs Superlight bivy (6 oz.) and it seems perfect so far.  I use bivy's with a tarp if rain is in the forecast.

[Ay Chihuahua!]

I think I'm going to just have to visit REI or something. I'm pretty torn between a bivy and perhaps the Big Agnes SL2 or SL3 tent. I know each is a completely different product, but I am also trying to figure out which is the best initial investment given the fact that I'd love to convince my wife to overnight South Rim with me at some point. Thanks for the link, though, as it has definitely helped shed some light on my available options. Only problem is that now I want a bivy AND a super light, quick setup mesh tent!

Stingrey,

Have you considered combining a bug bivy and and a tarp?  I've used this combo effectively on a couple of trips. 

Here's a combo that looks like it might work and it weighs in under 2 lbs.
Sil Wing
BugaBivy

Maybe a combo like this isn't for you, but it seems like it would be bit more versatile than a bivy sack.